Hearse table control means



Oct. 24, 19.39. P. o. KROGH HEARSE TABLE CONTROL MEANS Filed Feb. 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l .n Ill.

MN mm QN lllllllll I ll llll grwa/wto n I Pefer 0 hroy/v WQM Oct. 24, 1939; P. o. KROGH 2,177,411

HEARSE TABLE CONTROL MEANS Filed Feb. 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIE-.7.

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Patented Oct. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,177,411 HEARSE TABLE CONTROL MEANS Peter Krogh, Lima,

Body Company, Ohio Ohio, assignor toSuperior Lima, Ohio, a corporation of This invention relates to funeral cars, and particularly to hearses of thettype having a casket supporting table mounted therein and guided for movement through a side door opening at either side of the hearse to and from loading or unloading position;

For such purpose, it is customary to provide a Y-form of guideway on the hearse floor to cooperate with two guide members on the table bottom to guide the projecting movement of the table laterally through eitherside door to loading or unloading position.

The object of the present invention is the provision of simple and'efficient means associated with each of opposite sides of the table forwardly of its longitudinalcenter and operable together to lock the table in normal casket carrying position in the hearse to firmly hold the table in carrying position and selectively operable to permit, and at least initially guide, the projecting movement of the table through a desired side opening of the hearse.

A further object of the invention is the provision in combination with electrical means for moving the table to and from loading position, of means in association with the movable control members of the separate table locking means for rendering the electrical operating means inoperative when the control members of both locking means are in locking'positions, and to render the electrical means operative when either control member is in released position.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodimentof the invention, in which 1 Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a hearse, partly in horizontal section, with a casket carrying table mounted in normal carrying position therein for forward guiding movements through either side opening of the hearse and with the features embodying the invention associated therewith and in table locking position; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view'of a portion of v Fig. 1, showing the left hand table locking means released and the table moved forward a short distance from normal carrying position; Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of portions of a table and hearse with the locking and guiding means embodying the invention associated therewith and shown by full lines in locking position; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view thereof, with a part broken away; Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the locking lever, as shown in Fig.4, together with fragmentary portions of the table; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary outer side view of the inner end portion of the locking lever; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with an electrical operating means for the table added; 5 Fig. 8 is a section thereof on the line 8-8 in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram of the electric operating and control circuit; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of one of the electric control switches held in open circuit position by the associated locking lever, and Fig. 11 is a similar view showing the locking lever partly moved to released position and the associated switch in closed circuit position.

Referring to the drawings, l designates a hearse body having the casket receiving compartment 2 with a side delivery door or opening 3 at each'side of its forward end portion. In advance of this compartment is located the drivers seat 4.

A casket supporting table II] is mounted in the compartment 2 and has twolongitudinally spaced pins or members H and [2 in engagement with a Y trackway l3 on the compartment floor to hold the table in transversely centered casket carrying position in the hearse and also to guide its movement to projected or loading position through either side door 3, as well understood in the art. v The trackway [3 has a straight leg portion l3 disposed lengthwise of the compartment 2 substantially centrally between its sides. This portion preferably terminates closer to the rear than to the forward end of the compartment, with its forward end extending a distance in advance of the point of connection therewith of the side branches or laterally extending portions I 3 of the trackway. The rear guide member ll travels at all times in the track part I3, being disposed at the rear end thereof when the table is in carrying position in the hearse and moving forward past the branches l3 when the table is projected through a door. The front guide member I2 standsin the main track part l3 immediately at the rear of the point of connection of the side track parts |3 therewith when the table is at the limit of its rearward movement, or is in normal casket carrying position in the hearse, so that the two guide members then cooperate with the straight track portion l3 to hold the table centered in the hearse. Upon a slight forward movement of the table from its carrying position, the guide member l2 enters one or the other of the side tracks I3 depending on the direction of lateral force applied to the forward end of the table to direct it through the desired side opening.

The locking and direction guiding means for the table, which embodies a part of the present invention, includes a plate l5 fixedly mounted on the floor of the hearse compartment 2 under each side portion of the table I!) near its forward end, or in advance of its longitudinal center, when in its normal carrying position. Each of these plates in the illustrated arrangement has a side wall or ledge l6 facing rearwardly at an inwardly and forwardly directed incline to the respective table edge, when in said normal position, and is of suitable length to extend a short distance outward'from said edge and also a distance inward thereunder, as shown. These inclined ledges face each other, and, in the present instance, are disposedat substantially a right angle one to the other with the apex of the angle falling forward of the plates substantiallyon a line of extension of the trackway lit Each inclined face I6 is vertically beveled in undercut fashion, asbest shown in Fig. 3, for the purpose hereinafter described.

A combined guide and locking lever 20 is pivoted for vertical swinging movements at 2! to the respective side edge .of the table l0 adjacent, but in the present instance to the rear of, the respective plate face It. Each lever has a control arm 22 adapted to extend lengthwise of the table edge and carrying a releasable catch member 23 at its free end to engage a registering socket in the table edge to hold the lever in either its rearward or its forward swung positions. This arm of the lever is outwardly bowed intermediate its ends toprovlde a hand grip to facilitate grasping to swing the lever on its pivot and also to applyforce to the table to draw its forward end toward and through the adjacent side opening 3 if the table is hand operated.

Each lever 20 is of bell crank form, with its short arm extending down from its pivot when the lever is in the table locking position shown in Fig. 4 and by full lines in Fig. 3. This'arm has the outer side of its free end portion beveled both crosswise and lengthwise thereof, as shown at 2:2, in Figs. 4 and 6, to render it complemental to the cross bevel and longitudinal incline of the associated plate face It which it engages-when the lever is in its locking position. This engagement, when both levers are in looking position, not only firmly holds the table against lateral movements but vertical movements as well.

When either lever 20 is in releasedposition and the table is drawn forward, the engagement of the lever and guide member l5 at the opposite side causes a positive directing or guiding of the forward end of the table toward the opening 3 at the released side and a movementof the table guide member l2 into the proper lateral trackway 13 for such purpose. This guiding action is caused by reason of the opposite lever from that released sl ding forward and inward along the coacting longitudinally inclined guiding face [6 of the associated guide plate l5.

It is apparent from the foregoing that when the table I0 is in normal casket carrying position within the hearse, with both guide members H and I2 thereof disposed in the trackway l3? at the rear of the point of intersection of the side trackways l3 therewith and with the locking levers 20 in looking engagement with the respective guide members [5, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the table is firmly locked against movement in the hearse with its rear guide member ll abutting against a stop or end wall at the'rear en of the trackway w Such locking of the table not only holds it against longitudinal movement in the hearse, but also against lateral or vertical [0 through, for instance, the left side opening v 3, the attendant throws the lever 23 atsuch side to released position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 and dotted lines in Fig. 3, and then, if the table is hand operated, applies a forward pull to the table through the lever as a hand grip, thereby causing the table guide member 92 to move forward in the trackway Id and to be posl tively directed into the left hand guideway l3 by the guiding coaction of the right hand lever 20 with the assoc ated guide plate. A continued forward movement of the table causes the guide member E2 to continue its guiding movement throughout substantially the length of the lateral trackway I3 and'to direct the forward end of the table through the left hand opening 3 while the rear end thereof continues to move forward lengthwise of the hearse by reason of the guiding action of the trackway Id in coaction with the guide member il. When the table is being returned to normal carrying position in the hearse and is near the limit of its rearward movement, the-lever at the far side of the table, which assisted in guiding the initial outward movement of the tabl coacts with the respective guide plate E5 to assist in guiding the table to its final position, after which the previously released lever Zll is thrown to locking position to engage the associated guide plate l5 and by electrically operated means, it, is desirable that such means shall not be operative when the table is inlocked position, as otherwise something might be broken should an attendant start operation of such means while the table is locked. To obviate this,-thereis provided in the electrical control circuit, in association with each table locking means, a secondary or safety switch which is opened when the locking means is en gaged and is closed'whensuch means is released. It is thus necessary to release one or the other of the table locking means before the operating circuit for the'table' operating means can be closed. j

One means for accomplishing this purpose is illustrated in Figs. 7 to 11 and includes a reversible electric motor 39 having driving connection with a cable 3| connected to the rear pivot ll of the table. For this purpose, the straight guideway [3 may open through the hearse floor to permit the guide pin to project downward therethrough to cable engaging position. The cable is'of endless form and guided around sheaves 32, '33, at opposite ends of the guide pin travel.

A motor circuit 35 has a main switch a of the reversing type and is provided with'two secondary or safety switches b, 22, disposed in parallel portions of the circuit and fixed to the hearse floor, one beneath each control lever fill, when the table is in locked or carrying position in the,

tact fingers 31, 38, the latter being projected beyond the free end of the'other and having'its closing movement limited'by' a stop '39; A push member 40, in the present instance of angled or curved form, is pivoted to the hearse floor at 4| and extends upward and forward therefrom above the floor and then downward through-a position, engages the upwardly extending portion of the push member 40 and'forcesit down to switch opening position, as shown in Fig. 10. It is thus apparent that it is necessary to release one or the other of the locking levers 20 before the motor can be startedby a closing of the main switch a. i

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction arrangement or form of the parts, as it is capable of numerous modifications andchanges without departing from the spirit of the claims. I

Having thus described my invention,-what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States" Letters Patent, is: I

1. In a hearse having acasket carrying table mounted for guided. movements from carrying position therein to loading position through a,

side opening at either side of the hearse, a guide means at each side of the table forward of its longitudinal center when in carrying position, each of said means comprising a guide member fixed to the hearse floor, and a member movably carried by the table and operable to have releasable sliding engagement with said guide member lengthwise thereof to assist inguiding the table toward a respective side opening when the movable member of the other means is released and the table is initially moved from carrying position.

2. In a hearse having a casket carrying table mounted for guided movements from carrying positiontherein to loading position through a side opening at either side of the hearse, a guide means at each side of the table forward of its longitudinal center when in carrying position in the hearse, each of said means comprisinga guide member fixed to the hearse floor and a movable member carried by the table and operable to have sliding engagement with said member lengthwise thereof to assist in guiding the table toward a respective side opening when the movable member of the other means is released and the table is initially moved from carrying position in the hearse, and also being: operable in conjunction with the movable member at the other side of the table and the respective guide members to lock the table in carrying position.

3. In a hearse having a casket carrying table mounted for guided movements from carrying position therein to loading position through a side opening at either'side of the hearse, a guid ing means at each side of the table forward of its longitudinal center when in carrying position, each of said means comprising a guide member fixed to the hearse floor and a lever pivoted to the table and operable to have sliding engagement with said member lengthwise thereof to assist in guiding the table toward a respective side opening when the lever of the other means is released and when the table is initially moved fromcarrying' position in the hearse and being movable to out-of-coacting register with said gude means to permit movement of the table toward a predetermined side opening.

i 4. In a hearse having a casket carrying table mounted for guided movements from carrying position therein to loading position through a side opening at either side of the hearse, a looking and guide means at each side of the table forward of its longitudinal center when in carrying position in thehearse, each of saidmeans comprising a guide member fixed to the hearse floor and a lever pivoted to the table and operable to have sliding engagement with said member lengthwise thereof to assist in guiding the table toward a side opening at the opposite side of the table when the table is initially moved from carrying position in the hearse, and being movable to outof-coacting register with said guide means to permit movement of the table toward a predetermined side opening, the levers of both said means being engageable with the respective guide members to lock the table in carrying position.

5. In a hearse having a casket carrying table mounted for guided movements from carrying position therein to loading position through a side opening at either side of the hearse, a looking and guide means at each side of the table forward of its longitudinal center when in carrying position, each of said means comprising a guide member fixed to the hearse floor and having a forwardly and inwardly inclining guide surface and a lever pivoted to the table and operable to engage the respective guide member to guide movements of the table toward a side opening at the opposite side of the table when the lever of the other means is released from engagement with its guide member, and also being operable with said other lever when the levers are in engagement with their respective guide members and when the table is in carrying position to lock the table in such position.

' 6. In a hearse having a Y-form of guide and a table guided thereby for movement from carrying position in the hearse to loading position through each of opposing side openings thereof, a guide means at each side of the table forward of its longitudinal center when in said carrying position, each of said means comprising a guide member having an inwardly and forwardly extending guide portion, and a member movably carried by the table and operable to engage said guide portion to cooperate therewith to initially guide the table toward a respective side opening when the corresponding member of the other guide means is in released position with respect to its guide member.

7. In a hearse having a Y-fo-rm of guide and a table guided thereby for movement from carrying position in the hearse to loading position through each of opposing side openings thereof, said table having two guide members in engagement with the leg portion of said Y guide with the forward one adapted to enter either of the branch ways thereof when the table is initially moved forward a predetermined extent from carrying position, a guide means at each side of the table forward of its longitudinal center when in said carrying position, each of said guide means comprising a cam guide member fixed to the hearse floor and a releasable coacting member carried by the table and operable to coact with its guide member to direct said forward table guide into a respective branch of the Y guide when the corresponding member of the other guide means .is in released position and the table is moved forward from carrying position.

8. In a hearse having a Y-form of guide and a table guided thereby for movement from carrying position in the hearse to loading position through each of opposing side openings thereof, a locking and guide means at each side of the table forward of its longitudinal center when in said carrying position, each of said means comprising a guide member having a guiding portion inclined to the longitudinal centerline of the hearse and a coacting member carried by the table for movements relative thereto and operable when in one position of its movement to coact with the inclined portion of the associated guide to guide a forward initial movement of the table from carrying position to direct its front guide member into a respective branch of said Y guide when the corresponding member of said other means is in released position, both of said coacting members being engageable with the'respective guide members when the table is in carrying position to lock the table in such position and to prevent lateral and vertical rocking movements of the table.

9. In a hearse having a casket carrying table mounted for guided movements from carrying position therein to loading position through a side opening at either side of the hearse, releasable means at each side of the table for cooperating with the other of such means to lock the table in carrying position, said means including a combination locking and table pull lever carried by the table, an electric motor having con-- nection with and operable to move the table to and from loading position, and separate electric switches in parallel connection with the motor circuit, one switch being associated with each of said locking means and operable to open its connection with the motor circuit when the respective locking lever is in table locking position, and

vice versa. I

10. In a hearse having'a casket carrying table mounted for guided movements from carrying position therein to loading position through a side opening at either side of the hearse, guide means at each side of the table forward of its longitudinal center when in carryingposition, each of said means comprising a cam guide member fixed to the hearse fioor, and a member movably carried by the table and operable to have releasable sliding engagement with said guide member to assist in guiding the table toward a respective side opening when the movable member of the other means is released and the table is initially moved from carrying position, an electric motor having connection with and operable to move the table to and from loading position, and means in circuit with said motor and associated with each of said locking means to render the motor inoperative when both locking means are acting to lock the table in carrying position and to render it operative when either locking means is released.

11. In a hearse having a casket carrying table mounted for. guided movements from carrying position therein to loading position through a side opening at either side of the hearse, guide means at each side of the table forward of its longitudinal center 'when in carrying position,

each of said means comprising a guide member fixed to the hearse floor, and a lever pivoted to the table and operable to have sliding engagement with said member to assist in guiding the table toward a respective side opening when the lever of, the other means is released and the table is initially moved from carrying position in the hearse and beingmovable to out-of-coacting register with said guide means toperrnit move-v switches being disposed. in parallel portionsv of said circuit.

12. In a hearse having a casket carrying table mounted for guided movements from carrying position therein to loading position through a side opening at either side of the hearse, separate means at each side of the table operable to lock it in carrying position, each of said means including a control lever carried by the table, an electric motor having connection with and operable to move the table to and from leading position, amain switch and two secondary switches in circuit with said motor, said secondary switches being disposed in parallel portions of the motor circuit and one associated with each of said locking means when the table is in carrying position, said secondary switches being normally closed and being opened by movements of the respective locking levers to locking position when the table is in carrying position. v 13'. In a hearse having a casket carrying table mounted for guided movements from carryingposition therein to loading position through a side opening at either side of the hearse, separate means at each side of the table operable to lock it in carrying position, each of said means including a. control lever carried by the table and ondary switches disposed in parallel circuit with means associated with each switch and operable by the associated lever to open the switch when the table is in carrying position and the lever is moved to locking position,

I PETER O. KROGH. 

